In the Vhembe district, police arrested a couple found in possession of nine unlicensed firearms and two high-performance vehicles.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe said more than 4 600 suspects were arrested across the province as part of an operation aimed at ensuring safety during the Easter period.
While addressing the media on Friday, Hadebe said law enforcement officers had been deployed across all five of the province’s districts to monitor high-traffic routes, tackle cross-border crimes and respond to incidents of violence.
More than 4 600 arrests
“Since the beginning of our Easter operation, we have arrested 4,646 individuals for various crimes,” said Hadebe.
“These include 341 suspects for drug-related offences, 166 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 693 undocumented foreign nationals.”
The arrests were made through joint efforts by the South African Police Service (Saps), the Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and various other law enforcement agencies.
“We are satisfied with the work our teams are doing. As we speak, operations continue across all districts,” she said.
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Crime hotspots targeted
In the Vhembe district, police arrested a couple found in possession of nine unlicensed firearms and two high-performance vehicles, including a Porsche.
Hadebe said this was part of an ongoing effort to dismantle criminal networks operating within Limpopo.
“Our firearm confiscations are linked to crimes such as armed robbery and attempted murder. These weapons are at the centre of many violent crimes.
“We are determined to remove them from our streets,” she said.
She confirmed that Saps’ taxi violence unit is investigating a recent fatal crash allegedly caused by illegal modifications to a taxi.
“We are working closely with our taxi violence unit, and arrests will follow soon,” she added.
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Border security
The commissioner also praised efforts at Limpopo’s key border points, including Beitbridge, where 24-hour roadblocks are in place.
She noted that five people were arrested for attempting to smuggle stolen goods out of the country.
“Our borders are secured, and we’ve not had incidents of smuggling that weren’t swiftly addressed,” she said.
Hadebe warned the public about the dangers of hitchhiking and spiking incidents on the N1.
“People must be cautious. Hitchhiking has become a hotspot for armed robberies. And although we’ve tackled spiking, we can’t rule out its return,” she cautioned.
She further encouraged road users to drive carefully amid heavy rains.
“The roads are slippery. Obey the rules of the road so we can avoid unnecessary fatalities.”
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Double murder incident in informal settlement
Despite some progress, Hadebe expressed concern over a recent double murder in an informal settlement at Thabazimbi.
“Two men were fighting, and one killed the other by cutting his throat. The community then took the law into their own hands and killed the suspect,” she said.
“We are disturbed by such incidents. Communities must allow police to do their work instead of resorting to mob justice.”
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